MIRI: Malaysian maritime authorities have detained a tugboat towing a barge off Kuala Baram after it failed to produce mandatory stability documentation, raising concerns over vessel safety in one of Sarawak’s busiest coastal corridors.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said the vessel was stopped at about 11:35 am, around four nautical miles northwest of Kuala Baram, during an enforcement patrol under ‘Ops Permai’ and ‘Ops Tiris 4.0’.
An inspection found the vessel was operating without a valid stability document, a requirement under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
Maritime Zone Miri’s Director, Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad, said the omission posed a direct safety risk.
“Stability documentation is fundamental to a vessel’s seaworthiness. Without it, the risk of structural imbalance or capsizing increases significantly,” he said.
The vessel, described as a black-hulled barge under tow, was crewed by five men – three Malaysians and two Myanmar nationals – aged between 22 and 51.
Authorities escorted the tug and barge to the Pulau Melayu Vessel Detention Centre, where they arrived at about 2:00 pm and were handed over for further investigation.
Khairol said enforcement would be stepped up, with no tolerance for non-compliance.
“We will continue to intensify operations and take firm action against any party that fails to adhere to maritime regulations,” he said.
The case highlights persistent compliance gaps in coastal shipping, where documentation lapses can have serious safety implications, particularly in high-traffic waters such as Kuala Baram.
The MMEA has urged the public to report maritime offences via the emergency line 999 or the nearest maritime operations centre.
